1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
6
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS
The 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS has received a total of 6 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical Systemwiring (1 complaint), Engine And Engine Cooling (1 complaint), and Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS, potentially affecting up to 16,419 vehicles.
Recall 09E012000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 16,270 vehicles affected
Defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
View full details →Recall 96V058000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
| 149 vehicles affected
Defect: THE DRIVE BELT PULLEY ON THE ENGINE CAN DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE METAL AND BREAK. IF THE DRIVE PULLEY BREAKS, THE CAR WOULD NOT HAVE ENGINE COOLING, BATTERY CHARGING, AND/OR POWER STEERING.
Consequence: LOSS OF THESE SYSTEMS CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO OVER HEAT, LOSE POWER FROM THE BATTERY, AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT DAMPER-PULLEY ON THESE VEHICLES.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS
6 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Systemwiring | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES S420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STEER TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A CONNECTOR FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FLOOD THE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
1.I OWN A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ FOR 15 YEARS. WITH ONLY 11,850 MILES, THE TEMPERATURE / CLIMATE CONTROL MECHANISM FAILED DUE TO BEING DEFECTIVE PART. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO A MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CENTER, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT FIXED WHICH I LEFT UNSETTLED AND UNSATISFIED. 3. IN ORDER TO QUICKLY HAVE THIS FIXED, I WENT TO ANOTHER PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHICH THEY DULY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE PART, HOWEVER THE PART WAS PROMPTLY FIXED. THE AMOUNT WAS $1,097.36. I HAVE SENT 2 LETTERS TO MERCEDES BENZ USA HEADQUARTERS AND GERMANY HEADQUARTERS REPORTING THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE ISSUE AND REQUESTING FOR COMPENSATION, HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED REGARDING THIS MATTER. *TR
I HEARD A CLICK AND THEN AC STOPPED BLOWING AIR. IT HAD BEEN BLOWING FINE BEFORE THIS AUDIBLE CLICK. RESEARCH I DID SAYS IT IS A FAULTY BLOWER REGULATOR WHICH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS MODEL. *TR
JUST CAME BACK FROM VACATION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BEFORE. STOPPING AT THE GAS STATION WE NOTICED THE SMOKE COMING OUT THE HOOD. TEMPERATURE WAS RISING TO A 100 C. SINCE THEN EVEN IN LOCAL DRIVING TEMPERATURE GOES OVER NORMAL. I AM VERY CONCERNED. DID NOT CHECK WITH SERVICE YET. *TR
WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE. *NM
Safety Rating for the 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS
- 1994 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS — 14 complaints
- 1995 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS — 32 complaints
- 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS (current)
- 1997 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS — 4 complaints
- 1998 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS — 2 complaints
- 1999 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS — 10 complaints
- 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS — 101 complaints
- 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS — 46 complaints
Other MERCEDES BENZ Models
- MERCEDES BENZ C300 — 4,886 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ E350 — 2,649 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ E320 — 1,515 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ ML350 — 1,236 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ ML320 — 1,087 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ GLK350 — 1,031 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ C250 — 898 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ C230 — 879 total complaints